users executive committee activity report benn tannenbaum

Users Executive Users Executive CommitteeCommittee Activity Activity

ReportReport

Benn Tannenbaum

http://www.fnal.gov/orgs/fermilab_users_org/

June 10, 2002 Benn Tannenbaum/UEC Report

What is the UEC?The Users Executive Committee is a 12 member elected committee of Fermilab Users, each serving two year terms (six new members are elected each year)We are the liaison between the lab directorate and the user populationIssues include

Education and OutreachInreachQuality of lifeUsers MeetingWashington Trip

Benn Tannenbaum/UEC ReportJune 10, 2002

John Conway (Rutgers U.)John Conway (Rutgers U.)Robin Erbacher (FNAL)Robin Erbacher (FNAL)Joey Huston (Michigan S.U.)Joey Huston (Michigan S.U.)Sally Koutsoliotas (Bucknell)Sally Koutsoliotas (Bucknell)Larry Nodulman (ANL)Larry Nodulman (ANL)Rob Plunkett (FNAL) Rob Plunkett (FNAL)

GSA Representatives :GSA Representatives :Freya Blekman (Amsterdam)Freya Blekman (Amsterdam)Nate Goldschmidt (Michigan)Nate Goldschmidt (Michigan)Mike Kirby (Duke)Mike Kirby (Duke)

UEC MembershipUEC Membership

Roger Rusack (Minnesota)Roger Rusack (Minnesota)Rick St.Denis (Glasgow)Rick St.Denis (Glasgow)Wendy Taylor (Stony Brook)Wendy Taylor (Stony Brook)Sherry Towers (Stony Brook)Sherry Towers (Stony Brook)Gordon Watts (U. Wash.)Gordon Watts (U. Wash.)Chris White (I.I.T.)Chris White (I.I.T.)

Heather Ray (Michigan)Heather Ray (Michigan)Michel Sorel (Columbia)Michel Sorel (Columbia)

Chair: Benn Tannenbaum (UCLA)Chair: Benn Tannenbaum (UCLA)


This year our outreach program was limited by the increased security after the events of 9/11

No UEC-led tours of the experimental areas

Ask-a-Scientist resurrected on January 19th

Tours for Saturday Morning Physics continued and tours by docents (by appointment) restarted in February

Virtual Ask-a-Scientist debuted February 2nd; had programs in February, March and June

Education and Education and OutreachOutreach


Education and Education and OutreachOutreach

Public Relations and Awareness

Since the people couldn’t come to us, we decided to see if we could go to them

Exploring the concept of a FNAL display at a local shopping mall/store front.

Ongoing discussion with the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago for a major display.

Studying possibility of an exhibit at O’Hare

One of us (C. White) will attend a conference on “Exhibiting Science in Museums” in mid June


Younger Physicists / Younger Physicists / InreachInreach

Career Night – May 29Two new assistant professors detailed what one must do as a graduate student and a postdoc to get a faculty jobA former DØ student/BaBar postdoc described life at Lucent and how to get a job in industryA former CDF student/postdoc described life in medical physics & his return to the TevatronA current CDF postdoc discussed the possibility of a career in public policy, as well as the need for political activism among physicistsWe also provided the AIP statistics on what kind of jobs physicists get, pay, etc

We had an excellent turnout: over 70 people!


Quality of LifeQuality of LifeWe surveyed the Users to learn their concerns about working and/or living here at Fermilab

Transportation and taxi hours were big issues. Pathway on Eola Rd. out to DØ greatly needed.

Many people were unhappy with the state of the trailers (age, cleanliness, noise, air circulation).

Other than a couple of issues, people were generally ambivalent on most items, so they are pretty happy!

We also surveyed the users of the FNAL daycare

People are generally happy with daycare, although some concern over springtime nesting geese.


PresentPACE vanpool program has ~20 participants

Dorm renovations ongoing (thanks!)

Improved cleanliness due to new janitorial contract

FutureRequest a pathway along Eola Rd.out to Dzero

Request a modification in taxi hours/service

Request ‘share a ride’ stands around site

Notice with health care options & clinics for visitors

Quality of LifeQuality of Life


Lab SecurityThere is still much confusion about security and badges

Who is allowed onsite, under what circumstances…Can walk or bike on site

Can bring the family to see the buffalo

Can come to events at the hirise (films, lectures, art exhibts, etc.)

Visitors to the lab must enter the Pine St. gate

When must badges be wornNew card readers being installed at CDF, DØ, MCR to alleviate need for constant badge-wearing


Preliminary version of HEPAP sub panel report to HEPAP/DOE presented by Bagger at FNAL in November

UEC served as moderator for town meeting style Q&A session that followed

UEC solicited and received comments from User community regarding the report– passed comments directly on to sub panel with no commentary

Meetings with Meetings with UsersUsers


The joint Fermilab/SLAC DC trip was 23-24 April

Took 13 UEC members, 5 FNAL graduate students

Joined by 6 SLUO folks (1 faculty, 1 postdoc, 4 students)

Met with ~70 Congressional & committee offices

Also met with OMB, OSTP and DOE officials

This year we emphasized international collaboration and cooperation

Also raised awareness of NSF funding issues

Overall: successful, but depressing, trip

Washington VisitWashington Visit


DC Trip: Visas for scientists

Met with Peter Zimmerman, Staff Scientist for the Senate Foreign Relations committee

Mentioned problems with visas for visiting scientistsHe asked us to demonstrate a need for a change in the visa program, and then to write new legislation

So…. With the help of J. Jackson’s office, we quickly assembled a survey & advertised it

Received over 600 responses from FNAL, ANL, SLAC, BNL and JLabWrote paper detailing results & sent to DC

Short term goals: modify interpretation of B1 & J1 visas to better suit collaborative scienceLong term goals: new visa class?


It’s time to It’s time to retire…retire…

Six members of the UEC will rotate off Six members of the UEC will rotate off once the Users Meeting concludesonce the Users Meeting concludes

If you want to serve, see one of us for a If you want to serve, see one of us for a nomination formnomination form

users executive committee activity report benn tannenbaum

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